Tripping on roads of Ladakh for Highest Blogger Meet

Ladakh - Guinness Highest Blogger Meet with Scout My Trip

Ladakh, the land of high passes, stands as the topmost destination for road trips in India. A road trip to Ladakh offers a a scenic journey with a perfect mix of adventure, natural beauty, and cultural discovery. Whether you drive through the rugged terrains of Manali-Leh Highway or the mesmerizing stretches of Srinagar-Leh route, the journey is as breathtaking as the destination itself. With high-altitude mountain passes, serene lakes like Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri, ancient monasteries, and dramatic landscapes, a Ladakh road trip is an unforgettable experience for every traveler seeking raw Himalayan charm and soul-stirring vistas.

However, for me, the allure of Ladakh lay solely in its trekking routes in the outlandish Trans-Himalayan range. My first trip to Ladakh was in 2014, for the thrilling Chadar Trek in winter, where I experienced extreme temperatures ranging from a freezing -5 degrees Celsius during the day to a bone-chilling -30 degrees Celsius at night. The breathtaking landscapes, including the frozen rivers, the glamorous frozen waterfalls, and snow-capped mountains, left an indelible mark on my soul.

Motivated by this unforgettable experience, I returned to Ladakh in the summer of 2014, eager to experience the vibrant Trans-Himalayas in a kaleidoscope of colors: brown, green, orange, purple, teal, and pink, all bathed in the rich blue sky. This time, I dedicated three weeks to exploring the region, embarking on a solo trek to the Markha Valley and Stok Kangri with the guidance of a knowledgeable local. During my trek, I had the privilege of staying in authentic Ladakhi homestays, immersing myself in the culture, traditions, and warm hospitality of the local people.

As I bid farewell to my time in Ladakh, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of longing for the breathtaking roads that led to the region. The allure of returning was irresistible, especially since I had previously flown in due to limited travel time. In 2017, as the rains began to fall in Tirthan Valley, a thought crossed my mind: what if I could drive to Ladakh during this rainy season? And to my astonishment, my wish came true! Mid-June arrived, and I received an exciting invitation from Scout My Trip for a road trip to Ladakh, specifically for the Highest Blogger Meet.

Ladakh, the land of high passes

​A convoy of five SUVs, each led by an expert scout, a squad of fifteen bloggers, and the two co-founders of Scout My Trip, the trip leaders, was flagged off from OYORooms Gurgaon. I didn’t set any expectations for the trip because I knew I had to let loose and enjoy the journey. The entire trip was meticulously planned by the masterminds behind the DIY road trip platform ScoutMyTrip. However, what unfolded during the trip was an unforgettable experience for me. As a solo traveler, I had been traveling in groups for years, but this was my first time traveling with such a large group. It was an experience unlike anything I had ever encountered before.

Road trip to Ladakh for the Highest Blogger Meet with Scout My Trip

Swapping cars everyday:
Every morning, we would swap cars and explore the rugged roads of Ladakh on different engines. My car knowledge was enriched by learning about the unique behaviors of each vehicle on these challenging terrains. While swapping cars, we also swapped car partners, making each day an exciting adventure with new people. The rugged landscapes of Ladakh would test the limits of our vehicles, and our official rescue car, the Thar, would always be ready to lend a hand.

Road trip to Ladakh for the Highest Blogger Meet with Scout My Trip

​Experiencing curfew and road block in Kashmir: 
We started our journey from Delhi towards the Srinagar route. Upon reaching Jammu, we encountered a roadblock due to the Anantnag incident. Consequently, the next day, when we set out for Sonamarg, we were not permitted to proceed beyond Ramban. Consequently, we were compelled to spend the night at the sole available accommodation in Ramban. Remarkably, the Scout My Trip team had effortlessly arranged this impromptu night halt for the 20 of us.

Road trip to Ladakh - Amarnath yatra base camp - Baltal

Checking into comfortable OYORooms each night:
We spent approximately 10-12 hours each day on the roads, and every night, we checked into a new OYORoom. The cozy beds and warm rooms provided us with comfortable stays. I was pleasantly surprised to discover the presence of OYORooms in remote areas.

Road trip to Ladakh - OYORooms

​Eating local food on highways in each state:
As we traversed five distinct states during our 12-day road trip, Neeraj Sinha, the head scout and CTO of Scout My Trip, and Anuradha Goyal, a seasoned blogger, made sure to savor the local delicacies of each region. We indulged in the delectable parathas at Murthal, savored the farm-fresh corn in Punjab, savored the authentic Punjabi cuisine at local dhabas, savored the mouthwatering Rogan josh in Sonmarg, savored the comforting Thukpa in Ladakh, savored the delectable Wai wai in Changthang, savored the hearty mutton curry and rice in Koksar, and collected a wealth of other delightful treats along the way.

Chhali (corn) and punjabi food

Listening to various genres of playlists:
As we shared cars with different travelers each day, we listened to a diverse range of music. Anuradha’s Qawalis, Shubham’s Coke Studio, Ami and Ajay’s Kishore Kumar, Neha’s Punjabi songs, Deepak’s SP Balasubramaniam, Samarth’s live Gujarati translations, and my EDM and DJ Snake selections filled the car with a vibrant musical tapestry.

Calming our souls at tranquil monasteries:
Our road trip to Ladakh was a soothing experience, especially visiting the oldest and most beautiful monasteries in the region, including Mulbekh, Lamayuru, Diskit, and Thiksey.

Road trip to Ladakh - Mulbekh monastery near Kargil

Waking up to the beautiful lakes:
Ladakh, renowned for its breathtaking lakes, captivated us during our stay. We spent our nights and early mornings nestled in luxury tents, offering us unparalleled views of the lakes. The journey was particularly captivating, with the scenic drives along Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri, Tso Kar, and Tso Kiagar.

Road trip to Ladakh - Luxury camping at Pangong Tso

Knowing other interesting travellers:
I revisited most of the places, but this time, I was accompanied by other travelers. The destinations seemed to matter less than the journey itself. It was an incredible feeling to meet Anuradha Goyal, Mridula Dwivedi, Ragini Puri, and Ami Bhat—the faces I had only seen and interacted with on social media. My firsthand interactions with Neha Kapoor, Johann Kuruvilla, and Raza Rahil were so enjoyable that I would love to meet them again on future travels. I had some of the best times knowing the fascinating team of scouts—Neeraj Sinha, Prateek Jain, Samarth Sankhla, and Amit Nikam—and I would love to roadtrip with them often!
The co-founders of ScoutMyTrip, Deepak Ananth and Vineet Rajan, amazed me with their enthusiasm and ability to organize an extraordinary event on the most challenging and remote roads in the world. Kudos to you!

With Karan, Ajay and Ragini

Confluence of multiple talents:
​Each of us was passionate about things beyond travel, which we wouldn’t have discovered had we not traveled together. Ajay Sood, with his expertise in photography, selflessly shared his photography tips with everyone. Neha, with a talent for singing and theater, entertained us with all his not-so-intelligent jokes. Deepak, with his knack for cracking us up, brought laughter to our group. Samarth, with his creativity, performed live singing performances. I showcased my moves on the dance floor, Neeraj and Khursheed exuded a relaxed and calm demeanor, Anuradha and Lakshmi demonstrated level-headedness, and each of us contributed to making this trip truly memorable.

Grooving with Swati and Ami - Road trip to Ladakh for the Highest Blogger Meet with Scout My Trip

Recording Highest Blogger Meet with India Book of Records:
On our journey, we crossed the world’s highest motorable pass, Khardungla Pass, and set a Guinness World Record for the “Highest Blogger Meet.” Twenty bloggers from ScoutMyTrip and OYORooms team achieved this remarkable feat at an elevation of 18,380 feet. To celebrate this milestone, we opened the meet and launched OYONauts, a platform exclusively designed for bloggers to share their travel experiences and win all-expense-paid trips to India, Nepal, and Malaysia. 

Road trip to Ladakh for the Highest Blogger Meet with Scout My Trip

​We continued our meet at the Tsolding Buddha Park, the most picturesque location for any meet, for another two hours. During this time, we discussed various aspects of travel blogging. We celebrated our achievement at Hunder that night and had an official adjudication event with India Book of Records in Gurgaon on our return.

Road trip to Ladakh for the Highest Blogger Meet with Scout My Trip

A lot of exciting events unfolded daily, and we were oblivious to the fact that we had crossed several of the world’s highest passes and ended our journey at the very same place we had begun. After just 12 days, a large family that had been nothing more than a group of strangers dispersed to their respective destinations the following day. The memories I had collected during the trip lingered for at least a couple of weeks after the trip had officially concluded.
Having experienced this trip, I have come to realize that on all my road trips, my cars will be filled with captivating travelers. I am already planning my next road trip with a few of the individuals from this very group!

Road trip to Ladakh for the Highest Blogger Meet with Scout My Trip

​My third visit to Ladakh was all about enjoying the company of fellow travelers on the roads. I indulged in a lot of crazy things, like taking weird photos, clicking boomerangs, getting drunk, singing songs, hogging on food, laughing crazily, and just relaxing in the car while someone else drove for me. These are things I wouldn’t generally do on my solo travels. I hate to say this would be my last visit to Ladakh, but I know it would beckon me very soon for climbing higher summits.

I was invited by Scout My Trip and OYORooms to be a part of this roadtrip to record the Highest Blogger Meet with India Book of Records